Sunday, July 01, 2012

Parking, Traffic for Tall Ships and 4th of July in Boston

The Massachusetts State Police, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, MassDOT, and Massport have announced traffic and parking restrictions for state roads and reservations for the upcoming Tall Ships Festival-1812 Bicentennial Event and the July 4th Esplanade celebration.

The complete list of parking and traffic restrictions, locations, and dates are available after the break.

FRIDAY, JUNE 29 (US Navy ships expected to arrive in Boston)

South Boston

NO PARKING will be allowed on the following DCR Roadways in South Boston from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

No street parking on Day Boulevard from Castle Island to East Broadway Extension (Farragut Statue), both sides;

No Parking on Shore Road, both sides;

No parking on Day Boulevard from L Street to G Street, both sides.

The MBTA will run shuttle buses from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from the JFK/UMass Red Line station to Castle Island. The bus fee is $3 for adults, while up to two children under 12 ride free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Motorists should expect heavy traffic and congestion on DCR roads as a result of parking and roadway restrictions. Affected roadways include Kosciusko and Preble Circles, Day Boulevard, Old Colony Road, Babe Ruth Drive, and Shore Road. Parking on Castle Island will be severely reduced to provide access for the planned MBTA bus shuttle.

Seaport District

NO STREET PARKING will be allowed on the following roadways in the Seaport District from the afternoon of Friday, June 29 through the morning of Friday, July 6:

Massachusetts State Police will monitor pedestrian traffic in the Seaport for the duration of the 1812 events and may close lanes on the above roadways to accommodate pedestrians if necessary.

SATURDAY, JUNE 30 (Tall Ships expected to arrive in Boston)

South Boston

NO PARKING will be allowed on the following DCR Roadways in South Boston from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

No street parking on Day Boulevard from Castle Island to East Broadway Extension (Farragut Statue), both sides;

No Parking on Shore Road, both sides;

No parking on Day Boulevard from L street to G Street, both sides.

he MBTA will run shuttle buses from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from the JFK/UMass Red Line station to Castle Island. The bus fee is $3 for adults, while up to two children under 12 ride free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Motorists should expect heavy traffic and congestion on DCR roads as a result of parking and roadway restrictions. Affected roadways include Kosciusko and Preble Circles, Day Boulevard, Old Colony Road, Babe Ruth Drive, and Shore Road. Parking on Castle Island will be severely reduced to provide access for the planned MBTA bus shuttle.

Seaport District

NO STREET PARKING will be allowed on the following roadways in the Seaport District from the afternoon of Friday, June 29 through the morning of Friday, July 6:

NO PARKING will be allowed on the following DCR Roadways in South Boston from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

No street parking on Day Boulevard from Castle Island to East Broadway Extension (Farragut Statue), both sides;

No Parking on Shore Road, both sides;

No parking on Day Boulevard from L Street to G Street.

The MBTA will run shuttle buses to Castle Island from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from two locations: the JFK/Umass Red Line station AND the UMass Expo Center off Mount Vernon Street. Please note the additional shuttle bus location (Expo Center) for this day only.

Seaport District

NO STREET PARKING will be allowed on the following roadways in the Seaport District from the afternoon of Friday, June 29 through the morning of Friday, July 6:

Massachusetts State Police will monitor pedestrian traffic in the Seaport for the duration of the 1812 events and may close lanes on the above roadways to accommodate pedestrians if necessary.

Esplanade

12 a.m.: No public parking on either side of Storrow Drive or Memorial Drive.

7 a.m.: Both sides of Storrow Drive closed to traffic. Pedestrian footbridges to Esplanade from Charles Street Circle and Beacon Street will be closed, as will Mugar Way at Beacon Street. Pedestrians wishing to enter the Esplanade will b e directed down Beacon Street to Berkley Street for entry.

4:30 p.m.: Memorial Drive closed in both directions from Massachusetts Avenue to Longfellow Bridge. Longfellow Bridge closed in both directions (bridge may be closed earlier at order of incident commander depending on traffic and pedestrian flow).

6 p.m.: Memorial Drive closed from Massachusetts Avenue to Boston University Bridge (the pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Memorial Drive will be monitored continuously, and the incident commander will determine if the road needs to be closed at an earlier time). Massachusetts Avenue Bridge closed in both directions (bridge may be closed earlier at order of incident commander depending on traffic and pedestrian flow).

Parking for motorists with disabilities: The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary will open for vehicles with placards at 10 a.m. It will close at 6 p.m. or when it is full, whichever comes first. MBTA shuttle vans for people with disabilities will operate from the lot until it closes. Vans for the return trip will stage on Storrow Drive eastbound. Parking for people with disabilities will also be allowed on the Cambridge Parkway.

Cleanup begins 30 minutes after the fireworks finale. All roads will remain closed until labor crews are safely removed.

Interstate 93

Viewing of the fireworks display from Interstate 93 is dangerous, and is strongly discouraged. Troopers will be assigned to the relevant stretch of I-93 to strictly enforce the “No Stopping” law.